Display device



Aug 17, 1943- J. M. JOHNSON 2,327,270

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1940 2 sheets-sheet I1 INVENTOR.

Ja] `/V. Johnson ms ATTORNEY Aug- 17, 1943. J. MJOHNSON- 2,327,270

,DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. Jay M. John son HIS ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1943 1l' aylil.. Johnson, jtroit, Tillich.

g signfexhreising esperabas ear; be 1 more particularly ifto moving :rangement operation and 4 fonction Vof the reflatedelernents .of the structure, to variousjdetail/s offinstruction and to combinations' of Aparte, elementsper'se, and toeoonomies oflrnanisses sim issy bination` cfa friction "drivel inv combination vvitl anim ceiling weil arrahgedror'sheethiy 'eeiiin'g and delivering e large 'qantity of 'display nin'if Another object ofmy iive'r'iti'on is t bro de such azmovable illuminated dislay 'dvice'ii WhichY display strips may be `quickly andconveniently inserted, `replaced `or exchanged;

vA further objectief my invention is toi-provide i such-a movable sign exhibitor f a cohp'act; siin plied construction eoriiprisingafuitry base assembly which may be convenintly'fprefabiiated before itis enclosed and I'noiirted in the housing. g;` f 1 i Further `objects and advantags-arewitliiri the scope of my invention, 'suc'h 's relate to th'r# 1 aotiireja' d numerous other lieatiiresas will be 'apiaren't iponi fa consideration 'of thespeia- `inf"co'rz jn1jiotion`Withthe drawings disclosing a 'sp cific enibodiinent olf my invention, :similar f' "rence cir a'oters being applied tojcorrespondlingjelerrients throughout, andjin which:

1 Yis a iront elevational view showingone "embodiment of my improved illuminated moving s'ig'n exhibiting device;

' E fig. 2 is aplan View looking down, oirthefdis- Inlay evice vs /ith the cover "removed to show the nellarrangeinent ofthe 'elements mounted 'ii-non thefbas'eiiit'he casing; 4

Fig. Sis a-lo'rigitudnal sectionalview through the device taken along line `in Fig .j2;:

Fig. "4` i"s a"eross-sectional view on line li- .of

- Figsjffand 7 v'are detail views showing the lm geniesst-noemden drive reu; and j] Fig-28 is 'anenlarge'd perspective view/'showing aime-i.V i Y y Referring Isere 'specifically te the heures ef the drawings, I have illustratively disclosed one 'embodirrieiitof an illuniiiiatedunioving sign strip Y eifliibitin'gdeviee constii'ic'ted iniaccorda'nce with the 'princiibles'f my invention and'coniprising an enclosing housing or casing III Vwhich may becorrstruc't'd'of `any suitable opaqiie materialg such z isr'sli'eei', nietal selected of a gauge suitable to I provide' the Adesired strength and rigidity, l and e;ter'nally riishedv in anyV well known manner to 'presenta pleasing ornamental appearance. To provide a'sinple compactconstruction the enelsing vhousingV I! 4is preferably ofY a, generally rectangular conformation open at thetop and Bottoni *andliavirigfan elongated display Window I3 opening along onev sidewall, which may be termed the neet veii. Bent inwardly from the lower edges ofthe freni; and back walls of the Y casing are intiiriiedflanges land these are suite ably apetiired to receive rubber padsor reet l] vvhiclifare pressed' therethroughand serve for rh'oiirltinlr the device onrfurnitureor other arti-` clesjvvithont 'n ianger of scratching or marring tlie finish." j j strip o f :metal I9 isseonred, as by spotwelding; aroundmthe inside of the open top of the hoiisil {llhere it serves toreceive a coverj2l iifhiolrts' snugly 'dov/rr thereover 'abutting' the upper edges of the walls of the housing. The cover 2i is also provided with an elongated air baffling and light reflecting wall member 23 which, as shown in cross-sectional view Fig. 4, is secured to the under side of the cover and projects down into the housing in spaced relation behind the front wall and window, for a purpose to be subsequently described. From one end of the baiile 23 a portion 25 projects forward in L shaped relation.

The operative elements of my display device are conveniently preassembled upon a base wall member 21 and the simple compact base unit is then inserted into the housing where it is rnount-A 5 ed or secured in any suitable manner, as by late eral edge flanges 29 which are secured to the walls of the housing below the window level, as by welding. The preassembled base unit carries the following elements mounted in cooperative association.

The light source 3| utilized for illuminating the display strip is 4preferably one of the-types of electric lamps available in an elongated tubular form. This lamp 3| lis mounted in a closelyA spaced position behind the display window'opening I3 in the front wall of the housing and is-'s'uppor'tedbetweena pairof suitable socket'members`33'which are secured by screws .35 to the under `sideoffthe base extending upwardly display strip. or nlm d0, aiplurality of spools or spindles 4l are rotatively journalled uponstationary pivot pins 43 which rise from the base in vsuitably spaced positions'. As shown in Fig. 5, spaced slightly above the lowerend on the pivot pins 43 is a flange 45 of enlarged diameter which abutsthe upper side of the base wall 21 as -the lower end of theipivotpin is passed through a suitable aperture in the base wall. The lower 'end of the 'pin is peened for securing it firmly in the base. The lm guide spools may be made of any suitable plastic composition, such as'cellulose acetate, although these may be made of wood or other suitable material. When the spindle 4l is made of plastic composition it is preferably made in an upper part 41 having a smooth downwardly extending stem 49 having'anl upper rim 50, against which the lm runs Ywith the upper edge under a flange 50. On the lower end of the stem 43 a lower rim 5| is pressed and cemented. The upper'end of each spool is provided with an enlarged concentric aperture 53 for en-l closingy a retainer 55 which is a resilientv wire fastener of a U'fshape which is sprung into a circumferential grooveV on the upper end ofl the pivot pin 43. rlhe flange 45 lon the lower end of the pivot 43 also serves to journal the spool spaced above the base wall. Two of the guide spindles 4l are spaced on opposite sides of the window so that the moving display strip passes between the window andthe light source to be viewed externally. A strip of translucent; material- 51 is mounted betweenL brackets 59 rising from the base and disposed between thef light source 3lI andfthe display strip 40 to provide uniform il-y lumination, and serving as a screen for protecting the film from direct radiated heat from the lamp.

The'r'notive unit consists of a suitable small electriomotor 6i mounted in an opening in a rectangular base plate`63 which is inserted ina close fitting aperture in the base wall 21 where it is secured as by screws 65 passing through lugs or flanges 63 from the base Wall 21. Fiber Washers 61 are disposed under the screw heads. Members 59, of vibration absorbing material, such as rubber or cork, are inserted between the base plate 63 of the motive unit and the lugs from the base wall 21 of the casing so that the mechanism unit is practically oating on rubber for quiet operation. kLugs 1I extend laterally from the motor and are secured to the under side of the base plate 63 mounting the motor with its shaft 13 below thebase plate. A directly connected air impeller 15 is also mounted on the op posite end of the'motor shaft for Ventilating the unit. For this purpose a sirocco type blower is preferably utilized` and a scroll housing 11 is mounted in the base plate 63 and provided with an air conduit apron 19 so that the intake port opens above the base. The discharge outlet 18 is ldisposed to open below the base, as may be seen in FigA.

' In this arrangement the blower 15 is operated continuously so long as the display unit is oper` s ated, drawing air from the space above `the base 21 for carrying the heat away from the motor, the light source and other elements, and discharging the heatedair into the space below the base wall from whence it escapes to the outside atmosphere. Cool Ventilating outside air enters the space above the` base through the Window opening I3 because the moving display strip 40 isloosely disposed against the edges of the window and the flexibility of the strip freelyadmts air therethrough. As the air enters the window,

the L-shaped reflector member 23 behind the lamp deflects the air to flow out around one end circulating aroundl in the space above the base wall to receive the heat therein generated by the` venclosed elements after which the heated air passesinto the blower and is discharged below the base wall. The circulation of the coolingair is represented by the curved arrows. The rubber pads yI1 under the housing -II support the lower i edges in spaced relation above any surface whereon the display unit rmay be installed, and the heated air exhausted into the space under the base wall can freely escape. Louvres 8| may also be provided in the lower portion of the rear wall to discharge heated airs For moving the display strip. a soft rubber spool 83 is provided which is mounted upon and secured rmly to a drive shaft 85 by a nut 81 and the shaft extends vertically down through the motive base plate B3 wherein it is rotatively jour passesdown through aslot 35 in the base plate 63 and'isattache'd to and carried by the end of a swinging arm 91 which turns on a stationary' pivot 93 projecting down from the base plate. A coiledspring llis concentrically disposed upon the stationary pivot shaft99 with one end of theA spring reacting on the arm 91 and the other end secured in the base plate 63 vso that the arm is at all times urged to rotate or swing to carrythe-guide spool 9| toward the soft rubber drive spool 83 to maintainA high friction driving coniattebetueeorthef@helen dr' Th ltipalssing--lovei 1 r u @haltes-passing der t @ver outer Vsidespi3 thetv/ostrips as leg: of;therbrani/retl |24 Iit.adjagent the"housing;is;4 il laterally; tolera/ idea base. wallpii'llV where j cda ed andvpasses through aligned apertuws in the tab andbase and screws iirmly into a nut l2| soldered on the lower surface of the base wall. The retainer pin or stud H9 has arlange i spaced up from the lower1 end sufficiently for bearing down onV the upper surface of lug i Il'. Apilot pin-|25 rising from the base provides proper alignment. YThe upper end ci the retainer pin is provided witha knurled portion so that it may be quickly and conveniently released and the lrn guides 2&9 and l removed for changing the nim.

' The front guide strip extends approximately halt` of the way across the lm well at a position about one-fourth of a diameter from the rear side of the well, and the end is curled toward the center. The rearward nim guide strip |09 extends in slightly spaced relation behind the other strip and it is substantially longer. From the point where rear guide lil passes the iront to back diameter of the nlm well it is curved forwardly and downwardly in a generally circular or helical manner and sul; lntially conoentrically with reference to the cylindrical side walls lof the film well. rEhe extended portion of the long outer guide strip |59 is attached, as by rivets, to an L-shape bracket |21 the lower leg of which extends out over the base wall where it is secured by a retainer stud |29 passing therethrough into a nut under the base wall E? similarly to theother retainer stud l I9 previously described. The

upper end of the vertical leg of the bracket |21 extends above the upper edge of the guide strip and is bent over toward the center of the rllmv well H33. The guide strips are provided with a pair of raised beads or ribs i3! for reinforcement and which also prevent the film face rubbing on the guide. The ends of the two lm guide strips @nitriet-ai o erft man basel-ive,

the diYe, IOH fsninillaillzami.- lniwm the tueenethatwoieuiee. strips early- Fisf-t 'lielm's :nidad te @QH-down .to mali- 1mi vell- 93 L ofi-turnsiofrlmtmer Q til betiemawell; ffihe 5.1m denied 110m iilwfreovinsilm. The .m rorfiiheimotive @startete-Center ofthe s.; `11e th Welliamumbei 0f the number @returns in A|09 and are inserted between fandrtheieiiide the the runway.; 133i: v

fis ,Sslireif Aiuto. on ocimvelettrleco 3 5-,toenemende :0i: the noten. is; passatiV out,v of the insu .tinshushine I 3l the ottieni ofi-trie back. -Walliof fthe housing and bvimfienssot uua1 ;two contant` plus the! device entlyplngeediinto gewent/ ement Cef Outlet-: "Ihe@ lectrio` lampi 3 1 i012 may 'be esersiged in para1-1e1 with rotor 6.1;. .through wires f Gor-1r lettriciV infati-` Qi; the. motor aD-dz extendingthe te min 0f, the lamp, snoseduodenihe-base wall tion apaisethat; all con: ne iemand-wires are Concealed- 2 l :'eleetrie motor drives the. soft e pull@ Qr=sr901 8gesainsi which the er? it is Sotily pressed@ the ,sie-Striesen se00.1 Si- The film; @les by the drivn roll 8 3 ir'ithedirectionshown the arrows.' passing` the drive; roll it is l Vp e atom the iet/awards envies gideintov theinner turn of thelcoil inthe` ln the. the lnijemelge. from fof item11. sessiesue-the runway, etereo, the-freer? 17o-retiree, iria-spindles 4|, thence through the space between the lamp and the window around the guide spindles 4|,

completing the circuit of travel to the drive unit.

`During the time that the lm is coiled in the iilm well it rotates on the bottom of the film well sliding quite freely over the smooth reenforcing ribs Eil' raised therefrom which also reduces friction by holding the lower edge of the lm. from engaging the extensive surface of the bottom wall. The nlm is rotated in the film well by energy derived from the moving lm pushed into and pulled from the well. As soon as the electric motor is started and so long as it operates, the directly connected blower 'I5 is operated which draws cooling air into the upper portion of the housing through the window opening I3 around the flexible nlm 4e. around the baille 23 and around the interior of the upper space in the housing, as shown by the curved arrows, to absorb heat from the elements therein enclosed which is then discharged under the base wall from whence it escapes to outside atmosphere.

When new copy is to be inserted this is very quickly and conveniently accomplished merely by releasing the two retainer studs` ||9 and |29 and lifting the guide strips |99 and out of the well after which the film ordisplay strip is easily lifted from the Vmovable illuminated sign exhibitor and a new film inserted therein.

It is apparent that within the scope of the invention, modications and different arrangements may be made other than herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention oomprehending variations thereof.

The cooling air then circulates Iclaim: y i 1. In an illuminated moving sign exhibiting device, an endless flexible display strip, a casing Vol opaque material having an elongated display window opening, motive means in saidv casing, means driven by said motive'means for moving said display strip in said casing past said display window, an elongated lamp in said casing-for projecting light through said display strip and window, a blower for drawing air in through the window and discharging air from the casing', and a baille reector strip in said casing disposed behind the light source for reflecting light out through the display window and the adjacent portion'of the moving display strip while also serving to baille the cooling air to circulate from the window around the interior of the casing to carry heat from the elements enclosed therein.

2. In an illuminated exhibiting device, an end# less flexible display strip, a casing of opaque material having a display window opening, motive means in said casing, means driven by said motive means for moving said display strip in said casing past said display window, light emitting means in said casing for projecting light through said display stripY and window, a blower driven by said motive means, air ow conduit and baille means so arranged that the blower draws air from the space adjacentthe light source and window for drawing fresh cooling air into the window around the flexible display strip and circulating the cooling air in said space to carry heatv away from the enclosed elements. g 3. In an illuminated display device, a casing of opaque material having :an elongated display` Window opening through one side wall, a base' wall mounted in said casing, a plurality of ver-v tically disposed rotative spindles supported by said base wall and arranged to receive and guide a moving exible Vdisplay strip-past said display window in edgewise relation to said base, motive means on said base, means driven by said motive means for moving said strip, a light source in said casing for projecting light through said display strip and window, a blower driven by said motive means, air flow conduit and baille means so arranged in connection with said blower that the blower draws air from the space on the side of the base adjacent the light source and window for drawing fresh cooling air into the window around the flexible display strip and circulating the cooling air in said space to carry heat away from the enclosed elements.

4. An illuminated moving sign exhibitor comprising, an opaque casing of a generally rectangular conformation, said casing being open at the top and bottom and having an elongated display window opening along one side wall, a base member inserted into said casing and secured below said window, an electric light source mounted on said base for projecting lightJ through said displaywindowg'a plurality of rotative spindles supported by said base for guiding a flexible display strip to move in edgewise relation to the base and pass between the Window and the light source, an electric motor mountedV on said base, drive means actuated by said motor for moving said strip, ablower driven by said motor, said blower being mounted on said base with the intake and discharge ports connected for drawing air from the space above the base and discharging it below the base, a cover for closing the open top of said Casing, and an air baffling light refleeting member secured to and projecting down from said cover to be positioned at the rear of thev light source when the cover is applied on the casing. A

" JAY M, JOHNSON. 

